The case "New York v. United States et al." dealt with the constitutionality of three provisions of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985, which focused on the disposal of radioactive waste and the division of authority between the federal government and the states. The court concluded that Congress cannot force states to provide for the disposal of radioactive waste, but can encourage them to do so. Only two of the three provisions at issue were deemed consistent with the Constitution's allocation of power to the federal government. The Act requires each state to dispose of low-level radioactive waste generated within its borders, either alone or in cooperation with other states, and allows for interstate compacts to establish regional disposal facilities. The Supreme Court must determine the division of power between federal and state governments, and whether the Act is authorized by the Constitution or invades state sovereignty reserved by the Tenth Amendment. The Act's incentives for states to meet certain milestones and regulate the disposal of radioactive waste according to federal standards are constitutional under the Commerce and Spending Clauses and do not violate the Tenth Amendment.

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985's second set of incentives is constitutional, but the third incentive violates the Tenth Amendment. The monetary incentives and waste disposal exclusions in the Act are permissible exercises of Congress' authority under the Spending and Commerce Clauses. The take title provision can be severed without affecting the rest of the Act. The Federal Government cannot force states to implement a federal regulatory program. Justice White partially agreed and partially disagreed with the legal case, arguing for a regional approach to low-level radioactive waste management. The Court's failure to properly consider the context of the take title provision within the larger legislation affects its analysis of its constitutionality. The principle of estoppel should be applied, and New York must fulfill its obligation to establish a low-level radioactive waste facility or assume liability for its failure to do so.

The take title provision allows for the storage of low-level radioactive waste in New York, and is deemed necessary. However, there has been criticism regarding the Supreme Court's analysis of its constitutionality, citing the need for the FERC test to determine pre-emptibility by Congress. Garcia's process-based approach can be used for analysis in such cases. By enforcing the take title provision in interstate compacts, Congress can regulate low-level radioactive waste producers if a state fails to establish a waste disposal facility by the deadline. Justice Stevens believes that legislative authority can be exercised by the Federal Government over individuals within the States, whereas one justice dissents and agrees with Justice White's reasoning.